Week in McLean

Area students interested in attending one of the nation’s service academies are encouraged to attend the 10th District Academy Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at the Loudoun County School Board Office in Ashburn, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) announced.

Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will be in attendance. In addition, representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Virginia Military Institute and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets have been invited.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet with these representatives, as well as participate in panel discussions.

The 2018 Academy nomination season is now “open” for inquiries from students considering attending one of the U.S. service academies. For more information about the congressional nominating process or Academy Day, contact Ann Potocnak in Wolf’s Herndon office at 703-709-5800, or go to wolf.house.gov and click on “Academy Nominations” to complete an online Candidate Registration form.

The address of the Loudoun County School Board Office is 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA 20146.

MCA to Host Conversation on Education

The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) invites area residents concerned about local public education to a Conversation on Education on Monday, April 8, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at McLean High School.

Speakers will include Cluster I Assistant Superintendent Marty Smith, School Board member Jane Strauss, and Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville). They will be followed by an extended public question and answer period. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) has announced that applications for seats on the MCA Board of Directors may now be submitted for one-year volunteer terms. MCA’s Board of Directors consists of six officers and 34 directors, who are elected annually at MCA’s May membership meeting to guide the work of the MCA. MCA would like to invite any member of the MCA interested in serving the community by being a member of its Board of Directors to submit an application. There will be openings in the group of Board Members representing Homeowners Associations as well as at-large positions and officers. Applications are available on the MCA website, www.mcleancitizens.org.

County Completes Raymond Avenue Sidewalk

McLean residents in the area of Churchill Road may have noticed the recent completion of a sidewalk on Raymond Avenue, between Churchill Road and Capitol View Drive, a popular walking route for Churchill Elementary School students. Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) initiated construction of the 5-foot-wide, 350-foot-long sidewalk, at the urging of Churchill parents concerned about the heavy traffic on Raymond Avenue during school arrival and dismissal hours and the lack of a safe way for their children to walk to school. The project was first requested in April 2004 when then-PTA Churchill Elementary School Co-Chairperson Christy Slade sent a comprehensive package, including a petition signed by 162 residents within the Churchill school district, to Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), requesting a sidewalk. Churchill Principal Don Hutzel and Dranesville appointee to the Fairfax Sidewalks and Trails Committee Wade Smith pushed hard for the project. Churchill Elementary School parent and neighbor, Heather Bensten Schone, resurrected the project in February 2009 when she contacted Supervisor John Foust, presenting another petition with the signatures of 70 residents sharing concerns about student’s pedestrian safety. In June 2009, Supervisor Foust was able to obtain $300,000 to fund the walkway through the county’s Commercial and Industrialization Tax. Construction began in December of last year and was completed last month.

Six McLean Organizations Receive Grants

At its late February meeting The Mclean Community Foundation awarded grants to six organizations that serve the greater McLean community. A substantial portion of the support took the form of challenge grants designed to leverage the Foundation’s resources and to encourage other donors to participate in the projects.

The Foundation is seeking proposals that build the infrastructures and capacity of community organizations. Information on the application process is available on the MCF website www.mcleancommunityfoundation.org.

Gala to Support Medical Care for Children

The Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) Foundation has provided over $1 million of medical and dental care to Fairfax County’s children in low income, uninsured families. MCCP Foundation will be marking this milestone at their annual Dress Up with Grown-ups Gala on April 6, 2013. The MC will be Charles Mann, former Redskin, three-time Super Bowl champion, businessman and philanthropist.

The gala will be held at The Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel located on George Mason University’s campus. Welcoming remarks will be presented by Dr. Ángel Cabrera, president of GMU.

Gala attendees are welcome to bring their children or grandchildren for an elegant evening of dining, dancing and fun. There are still opportunities for corporate sponsors to support children’s health and become a part of this initiative.

It's time for spring cleaning and a thorough sweep can help the Boys & Girls Club, Fairfax County Region. The "World's Fanciest Rummage Sale" is slated for Sunday, April 7, from noon to 4 p.m., at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean. The group is now asking for donations of new or like-new items to the sale for tax deduction with a receipt provided. Call Helen Kruger at 703-748-4068 to make pickup arrangements for a large item.